The hottest Healthcare Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Health Politics Topics

F Cancer

Marcus on AI • 13437 implied HN points • 16 Mar 26
🕹 Technology Healthcare
  1. Biology is incredibly complex and varies from person to person, so many drugs that look promising in animals or early tests still fail in humans.
  2. Current AI is not a magic cure—existing models are limited and often trained on language, so much stronger algorithms that can reason about chemistry, physics, and biology are needed for major breakthroughs.
  3. In the near term, AI can help by streamlining paperwork, patient recruitment, and researcher tools, but real progress also depends on economic and systemic changes like better incentives and funding.

Movers and Shakers: Bas Bloem

Rory’s Always On Newsletter • 515 implied HN points • 02 Nov 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Healthcare
  1. Bas Bloem wants to eliminate Parkinson's disease so he can make himself unemployed. He believes that it's possible to make significant advances in treating and understanding the condition.
  2. Environmental factors, especially pesticides, may play a major role in causing Parkinson's. Bas argues that banning harmful substances could help reduce the disease's prevalence.
  3. The healthcare system in the Netherlands is more efficient for Parkinson's treatment, with less waiting time for patients. They focus on teamwork among specialists to provide comprehensive care.

Economics Links, 3/11/2026

In My Tribe • 318 implied HN points • 11 Mar 26
💼 Business Healthcare
  1. The population is aging rapidly, creating huge demand for long-term care, soaring costs, and a shortage of direct-care workers that will make care unaffordable for many people.
  2. Median earnings for young men have risen substantially from 1989 to 2024, challenging the idea that younger men are broadly worse off in terms of wages.
  3. There’s a debate over funding and incentives: bundling subscriptions could help consumers but may undercut top creators and change incentives, while large-scale philanthropy can lack market discipline compared with investing in businesses or supporting local charities.

The One Simple Thing That Makes the U.S. Economy Unmanageable

BIG by Matt Stoller • 32659 implied HN points • 09 Jan 26
💼 Business Healthcare
  1. Many markets, especially health care, no longer have a single public price; middlemen like pharmacy benefit managers use secret rebates and fee schemes so the same drug can cost wildly different amounts to different people.
  2. Price secrecy destroys transparency, encourages consolidation and market power, creates huge administrative waste, and makes it impossible to tell if policy changes or list‑price cuts actually reduce overall costs.
  3. There is growing pushback through investigations, lawsuits, state laws, and enforcement actions aimed at restoring posted prices and fairer, more transparent markets.

The "$140,000 poverty line" is very silly

Noahpinion • 24529 implied HN points • 29 Nov 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Healthcare
  1. The $140,000 "poverty line" mostly comes from simple data and math mistakes — using the wrong food-share number and the wrong income benchmark makes the figure much higher than it should be, and a corrected back-of-envelope comes in closer to about $80,000.
  2. The method of redefining poverty by scaling a 1963 food-based rule to modern middle-class spending is flawed — it treats voluntary upgrades (bigger houses, fancier goods) and temporary costs (full-time daycare for young kids) as permanent necessities, which produces absurd results.
  3. Reality checks show most families today have food, housing, insurance, and adequate transport, so calling a majority "poor" is misleading; that said, rising costs for housing, healthcare, and childcare are real problems that merit policy attention.
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I Was Fired by New York’s Attorney General for Opposing ‘Gender-Affirming Care’

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 4178 implied HN points • 27 Jan 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Healthcare
  1. A government attorney who criticized pediatric gender‑affirming care was warned for public comments and then fired, showing that employees can face job consequences for opposing agency positions on sensitive issues.
  2. Senior officials in the same office actively promoted and legally defended access to gender‑affirming treatments, which created a clash between institutional policy and internal critics.
  3. The case highlights broader debates about pediatric gender‑affirming care, including concerns about safety, informed consent, and whether vulnerable patients are being misled, fueling legal and political conflict.

✨⚕️ Must AI cure cancer?

Faster, Please! • 1370 implied HN points • 24 Feb 26
🕹 Technology Healthcare
  1. AI doesn't have to instantly cure cancer to be a huge win. Even steady improvements that make treatments more precise and drug discovery cheaper would be transformative.
  2. AI is already helping reverse decades of falling pharma productivity by acting as a better front-end filter — boosting candidate success rates, shortening timelines by roughly 20–25%, and cutting development costs by about 25–30% — which could unlock tens to hundreds of billions in value.
  3. Apocalyptic job-loss stories are overstated because they ignore new job creation, the gap between lab capability and workplace adoption, and political and economic constraints that will slow large-scale disruption.

Friday brief: Northants health system overspending as county’s two hospitals bust budget

NN Journal • 99 implied HN points • 25 Oct 24
🏥 Health Politics Healthcare
  1. The Northants health system is spending a lot more money than it planned, with hospitals facing major budget shortfalls.
  2. Kettering General Hospital has a big overspend due to issues like rising costs and high demand for services.
  3. The council and healthcare system are looking for solutions, including an external review of the hospital finances to get back on track.

Did RFK just take away your cancer treatment?

Noahpinion • 35647 implied HN points • 08 Aug 25
🏥 Health Politics Healthcare
  1. Cancer rates are rising, but new treatments, especially mRNA vaccines, show promise in making cancers manageable diseases instead of death sentences.
  2. Recent government decisions have halted funding for mRNA vaccine research, which could slow down advancements in cancer treatment.
  3. This political battle against mRNA technology may cost many lives as the advancements that could help fight cancer are delayed.

Movers and Shakers: The NHS Health Check

Rory’s Always On Newsletter • 515 implied HN points • 12 Oct 24
🏥 Health Politics Healthcare
  1. The waiting times for Parkinson's care in places like Oxford can be shocking, reaching up to 56 weeks for a new appointment.
  2. Many patients feel let down by the NHS and sometimes choose to pay for private care due to long delays in service.
  3. Fixing the NHS needs both immediate funding for extra appointments and long-term improvements to the system to make it work better.

Is it Really So Much Better Now?

Chris Arnade Walks the World • 1939 implied HN points • 03 Feb 26
🎭️ Culture Healthcare
  1. Technology has made many things safer, cheaper, and more convenient, but when systems break down the loss of direct human connection turns processes into frustrating, impersonal experiences.
  2. Relying on efficiency and automation in places like healthcare, travel, and end-of-life care strips away the nuanced, comforting human interaction that machines can’t replicate.
  3. Widespread food delivery in the U.S. is partly a response to cultural and zoning choices that limit nearby affordable dining options, so people pay for convenience even when cooking might be cheaper or healthier.

The way we live in the United States is not normal

Changing The Channel • 33626 implied HN points • 29 Nov 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Healthcare
  1. In the United States, there is a sense of normalcy around high costs for education and healthcare, which contrasts with other countries where these are considered basic human rights.
  2. The social dynamics in the US make casual, spontaneous interactions with friends difficult to maintain, unlike in some other parts of the world where daily connections are more common.
  3. The increasing expenses, especially in housing, in the US are leading to a situation where even successful professionals find it challenging to afford a balanced life, pushing many towards burnout and dissatisfaction.

The Evidence That A Million Americans Died Of COVID

Astral Codex Ten • 32210 implied HN points • 22 May 25
🏥 Health Politics Healthcare
  1. Many people are unsure if the 1.2 million COVID deaths are accurate, with some believing these deaths are linked to other causes rather than COVID itself.
  2. The data shows that total deaths during the pandemic were higher than usual, which supports the idea that many deaths were directly caused by COVID.
  3. Some argue that they don’t personally know anyone who died from COVID, but with a large population, it makes sense that not everyone would know someone affected.

Concerns of Voters

Points And Figures • 532 implied HN points • 16 Feb 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Healthcare
  1. Rural voters are split on development — some oppose new projects while others welcome mining and geothermal growth, and they want local control over where and how development happens.
  2. People are worried about state finances and high costs; they like Nevada's 0% income tax but don’t want higher sales taxes or fees, and they want the treasurer to take quick steps and modernize the office to save taxpayers money.
  3. Voters broadly support voter ID and a ballot ban on men in women’s sports, and they also want school choice, better medical access, more clarity around cryptocurrency, and less reliance on California for gasoline.

Project 2025’s Medicare Changes Would Restrict Older Americans’ Access to Care and Imperil the Program’s Financial Health

HEALTH CARE un-covered • 579 implied HN points • 29 Aug 24
🏥 Health Politics Healthcare
  1. Project 2025 wants to make Medicare Advantage the main choice for people, but this could limit their healthcare options. Instead of giving patients more freedom, it may hand over more control to companies.
  2. Switching from Medicare Advantage back to traditional Medicare could become harder, which may trap people in plans that aren't right for them. This can lead to worse care for those who are sick.
  3. The changes could cost taxpayers billions and weaken Medicare's financial health. Instead of saving money, it might enrich insurance companies while jeopardizing the Medicare program's future.

America’s Seniors Are About to Pay a High Price for Wall Street’s Growing Disenchantment with Medicare Advantage

HEALTH CARE un-covered • 1139 implied HN points • 08 Aug 24
🏥 Health Politics Healthcare
  1. Many seniors using Medicare Advantage may soon face tough choices as big companies like Aetna and Humana say their plans aren't as profitable as expected. This could lead to changes that affect healthcare access and costs for those enrolled.
  2. As these companies look to boost profits, they may increase scrutiny on medical claims and require more approvals for treatments. This means patients could find it harder to get the care they need.
  3. Some seniors might end up losing their Medicare Advantage plans entirely, forcing them into new plans with less coverage and higher costs. This shift could leave many feeling trapped and worried about their healthcare options.

From cradle to grave (derogatory)

Capital Offences • 99 implied HN points • 16 Oct 24
🏥 Health Politics Healthcare
  1. It's concerning when people criticize the government's treatment of vulnerable groups but then support euthanasia for them. This shows a disconnect in how we value human life.
  2. The way healthcare systems, like the NHS, might judge the value of lives based on productivity raises serious ethical issues. It could lead to discrimination against those who are less 'productive'.
  3. We need to rethink our support for the NHS if it starts to prioritize cost savings over the dignity of individuals who are disabled or unwell. Supporting a better system means recognizing its potential flaws.

Expect a Firehose of Obamacare Misinformation From Bad Actors, Insurance Industry Operatives

HEALTH CARE un-covered • 679 implied HN points • 19 Aug 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Healthcare
  1. There will be a lot of misinformation about Obamacare as the election approaches, particularly from bad actors and the insurance industry. It's important to stay informed about the truth.
  2. Obamacare has its supporters and critics, with Democrats generally praising it and Republicans trying to repeal it. Understanding both sides can help in making informed opinions.
  3. Many important protections for consumers are tied to Obamacare, like ensuring insurers cover everyone regardless of health. Recognizing these benefits is crucial in the debate over the law.

The trouble with remission

Trevor Klee’s Newsletter • 1567 implied HN points • 29 Dec 25
🏥 Health & Wellness Healthcare
  1. Modern medicine often treats each disease separately and can produce remissions, but that piecemeal care can leave older people on a steady, downward health trajectory.
  2. Repeated lifesaving treatments can prolong life without restoring prior function or quality, resulting in chronic frailty and heavily medicalized lives.
  3. Healthcare should prioritize fixing underlying causes of aging and reward true healthspan improvements, which means agreeing on what 'longevity' means and finding reliable biomarkers and trial designs.

Mental Bric-a-Brac

Disaffected Newsletter • 839 implied HN points • 08 Aug 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Healthcare
  1. Good customer service should be recognized and praised, just like bad service is often complained about. It's important to share positive experiences.
  2. A personal connection with service staff can make a big difference, like when a pharmacist helps save money on medications and explains the options available.
  3. Observing changes in other countries can evoke a sense of concern and hope for their future. There's often a personal connection felt even from afar.

The $140K Question: Cost Changes Over Time

Don't Worry About the Vase • 1612 implied HN points • 17 Dec 25
💰 Finance Healthcare
  1. Real incomes and aggregate wealth have gone up, but many people still feel worse off because the costs and required standards of modern middle-class life (housing, health, education, childcare) have risen faster or in more painful ways than the headline numbers show.
  2. Housing is the central problem: legal and regulatory limits on building in the places with opportunity, plus higher interest rates, have made homes scarce and expensive and squeezed people’s ability to live where they want or raise a family.
  3. Official statistics miss key burdens — mandatory insurance tied to jobs, subsidies and hoops that distort choices, credential inflation, time costs, and administrative bloat — so even if some service prices have leveled, the real, lived cost and uncertainty remain high.

Biden's media problem

Slow Boring • 7173 implied HN points • 22 Jan 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Healthcare
  1. The media landscape skews left due to demographics, influencing the coverage of political topics
  2. Media coverage focuses more on student loans than Medicare, impacting public perception of key policies
  3. Left-wing media's emphasis on negativity can hinder positive reporting on successful policies

On AI Infrastructure in Biology

The Century of Biology • 1416 implied HN points • 23 Nov 25
🕹 Technology Healthcare
  1. The biotech industry is seeing a shift towards using AI technologies. This is creating new opportunities for businesses that provide AI tools and infrastructure rather than just focusing on drug development.
  2. AI can potentially replace traditional experiments in biology, speeding up research and reducing costs. This allows scientists to explore many more ideas and possibilities without being limited by the physical experimentation process.
  3. Investing in AI infrastructure for biotech could lead to significant advancements and financial returns. If companies successfully scale their AI solutions, they could capture a big slice of the growing biotech market.

Open Thread 409

Astral Codex Ten • 1720 implied HN points • 24 Nov 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Healthcare
  1. There's a new blog post about the war in Gaza, which might become relevant again in the future. It took some time to gather thoughts for it.
  2. The ClusterFree initiative is working to research treatments for cluster headaches using psychedelics. They aim to help get these treatments recognized for medical use.
  3. Coefficient Giving wants to give out about $10 million for projects that use AI for forecasting or reasoning. If you have a related idea, check their website to apply for funding.

We Are Not Okay

The Audacity. • 5621 implied HN points • 09 Feb 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Healthcare
  1. Social media can often be a place where sincerity dies, with people sharing their struggles and miseries.
  2. There is pressure to always appear okay, even though many people are dealing with isolation and various problems.
  3. Despite progress in discussing mental health, there are still challenges like expensive therapy and inconsistent insurance coverage.

Why "we" want insurance executives dead

Taylor Lorenz's Newsletter • 18512 implied HN points • 05 Dec 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Healthcare
  1. People are really angry at insurance executives because they feel these leaders cause a lot of suffering by denying necessary healthcare. It's common for them to wish these executives faced the same pain they see others go through.
  2. Many people believe the healthcare system in the U.S. is broken and that executives profit while patients suffer. This has led to outrage, and some even make jokes or comments about violent retribution, which reflects their frustration.
  3. The media often focuses on the reactions to these comments instead of addressing the real issues within the healthcare system. Many individuals want change and accountability from those in power rather than violence.

Republicans Want Women to Have C-Sections Instead of Emergency Abortions

All in Her Head by Jessica Valenti • 6407 implied HN points • 19 Jan 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Healthcare
  1. Republicans in Wisconsin are pushing a bill that would force women to have c-sections or vaginal deliveries instead of emergency abortions.
  2. The anti-abortion movement is working to distance abortion from healthcare by advocating for more traumatic and unnecessary procedures.
  3. Democratic Governor Tony Evers has vowed to veto the bill, but the dangerous intentions behind it remain clear.

All the Little Unborn Babies

Freddie deBoer • 17141 implied HN points • 18 Nov 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Healthcare
  1. IVF involves many ups and downs, including the high likelihood of miscarriages, which can lead to a lot of anxiety for parents. The process makes individuals very aware of the fragility of early pregnancy.
  2. Miscarriage is common and often goes unnoticed, but it is a significant loss for would-be parents. Many people feel guilt or blame themselves even though it's often just part of nature.
  3. Understanding the realities of pregnancy and loss can change perspectives on abortion. The chaos of nature shows that life doesn't always happen the way we plan or want it to.

PEDOPHILES, Child sex abusers and Child pornographers - exposing Canada's Healthcare Leaders - Part 3 - Child pornography problem at College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta during the pandemic

COVID Intel - by Dr.William Makis • 5306 implied HN points • 20 Jan 24
🏥 Health Politics Healthcare
  1. A post exposing child pornography problem at the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta
  2. Parts 1 and 2 of the viral expose reveal child sex abusers among Canada's healthcare leaders
  3. Subscription offers access to more detailed posts and a 7-day free trial

Learn With Me

Chamath Palihapitiya • 8215 implied HN points • 02 Nov 23
💼 Business Healthcare
  1. Being informed about technology, markets, and the economy is crucial
  2. Increasing situational awareness about trends and competitors is valuable
  3. Making decisions based on a clear understanding of companies and sectors is important

Dấn thân phụng sự

Thái | Hacker | Kỹ sư tin tặc • 5172 implied HN points • 12 Jan 24
🌍 World Politics Healthcare
  1. During the COVID pandemic, people contributed funds for relief efforts in Vietnam, supporting various volunteer groups addressing different needs like food distribution, shopping for isolated families, and providing medical supplies.
  2. One standout individual, Dr. Lê Minh Ngọc, led a team in setting up a treatment center for severe COVID cases in Bình Dương, showcasing dedication and resourcefulness in the face of challenges.
  3. The story highlights the impact of selfless service by individuals like Dr. Ngọc and Dr. Mai, who left their jobs to help during a time of crisis, emphasizing the importance of such noble actions in society.

The Dirty Business of Clean Blood

BIG by Matt Stoller • 32315 implied HN points • 03 Feb 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Healthcare
  1. Dialysis industry is controlled by two powerful corporations - DaVita and Fresenius - impacting over half a million lives. Non-compete agreements could potentially change this monopoly.
  2. Dialysis is a critical treatment provided under universal healthcare for end-stage renal disease patients, but monopolistic control has led to issues like patient coercion and quality concerns.
  3. The lack of competition and consolidation in the dialysis market has led to lower survival rates in the US compared to other countries. Eliminating non-compete agreements for healthcare professionals could foster innovation and improve patient care.

What I Went Through to Meet My Daughter

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 3932 implied HN points • 19 Jul 25
🏥 Health & Wellness Healthcare
  1. Many women experience unexplained infertility and feel lost in their treatment options. It can be frustrating when doctors can't find clear reasons for fertility issues.
  2. IVF is a popular option for those facing infertility, but it might not work for everyone and can be tough both physically and financially. It's a process that doesn't always solve the underlying health problems.
  3. Some women seek alternative clinics that focus on understanding and treating their specific issues instead of just providing standard treatments. This can offer a glimmer of hope for those feeling stuck.

Microsoft AI CEO Mustafa Suleyman: Why Our AI Diagnostician Outperforms Doctors

Big Technology • 3878 implied HN points • 03 Jul 25
🕹 Technology Healthcare
  1. Microsoft's AI diagnostician, MAI-DxO, is significantly more accurate than human doctors, solving 85.5% of complex cases compared to only 20% by humans. This shows how advanced AI can assist in medical diagnoses.
  2. The AI system uses multiple bots to analyze a patient's medical history and ask questions, enhancing the quality of its responses and accuracy. This cooperation between bots leads to better diagnosis than just using one model alone.
  3. As AI becomes more common in healthcare, it's important for doctors to understand and not rely solely on AI for decision-making. There may be challenges if doctors become too dependent on AI tools.

Berlin hospitals struggle to treat hundreds of slip-and-falls after repeated snow and ice storms because environmental laws forbid the use of melting agents on stairs and sidewalks

eugyppius: a plague chronicle • 238 implied HN points • 30 Jan 26
📰 News Healthcare
  1. Hospitals are overwhelmed with hundreds of slip-and-fall injuries from weeks of ice and snow, with many fractures and serious cases straining emergency services.
  2. Environmental rules banning salt on sidewalks and stairs to protect plants have kept pedestrian areas icy, even though roads and bike paths are still treated.
  3. Authorities only recently allowed salt in exceptional cases and suggested personal precautions like shoe spikes, but the move came after many injuries and left legal uncertainty.